Research

Team Members

Main Supervisor:

Wajiha Zaheer (MSc Candidate, co-supervised with Dr. Khalil El-Khatib), Sep 2024 - present

Morteza Tavakkoli Bazzaz (MSc Candidate, co-supervised with Dr. Khalil El-Khatib), Jan 2025 - present

Co-Supervisor: 

Aghoghomena Akasukpe (MSc Candidate, co-supervised with Dr. Miguel Vargas Martin), Jan 2025 - present

Yasamin Fayyaz (MSc Candidate, co-supervised with Dr. Khalil El-Khatib), Jan 2025 - present

Mahshid Khatiriolyaee (MSc Candidate, co-supervised with Dr. Richard Pazzi), Jan 2024 - present

Harshit Maheshwari (MSc Candidate, co-supervised with Dr. Richard Pazzi), Jan 2024 - present

Eddy Fung (PhD Candidate, co-supervised with Dr. Khalil El-Khatib and Dr. Shahram Heydari), Mar 2024 - present

Previous Supervision/Alumni:

Harshit Maheshwari (MSc, co-supervised with Dr. Richard Pazzi), Jan 2024 - Aug 2025

Einstein Rivas pizarro (MITS, Capstone Project Supervision), Jun 2024 - Feb 2025

Subham Sinha (Undergraduate, Mitacs GRI, co-supervised with Dr. Loutfouz Zaman), May 2024 - Aug 2024

Wajiha Zaheer (Undergraduate, NSERC USRA, co-supervised with Dr. Khalil El-Khatib), May 2024 - Aug 2024

Nathanael Coolidge (Undergraduate, co-supervised with Dr. Khalil El-Khatib), Feb 2024 - Oct 2024

Jaime Gonzalez sanz (Undergraduate, co-supervised with Dr. Khalil El-Khatib), Feb 2024 - Oct 2024

Mirna El-Rajab (unofficial co-mentor as a postdoc, with Dr. Abdallah Shami), Sep 2022 - Aug 2023

Fatemeh Dehrouyeh (unofficial co-mentor as a postdoc, with Dr. Abdallah Shami), Jan 2023 - Dec 2023

Publications

Journal Papers & Book Chapters

[J14] H. Maheshwari, L. Yang, and R. Pazzi, "Machine Learning Advancements in Urban Traffic Simulation: A Comprehensive Survey," IEEE Open Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems (Impact Factor: 5.3), vol. 6, pp. 1027-1052, Jul. 2025. [PDF] [Code]

[J13] L. Yang, S. Naser, A. Shami, S. Muhaidat, L. Ong, and M. Debbah, "Towards zero-touch networks: Cross-layer automated security solutions for 6G wireless networks," IEEE Transactions on Communications, pp. 1–30, Mar. 2025. [PDF] [Code]

[J12] F. Dehrouyeh, L. Yang, F. Badrkhani Ajaei, and A. Shami, "On TinyML and Cybersecurity: Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Use Case," IEEE Access (Impact Factor: 3.9), vol.12, pp. 108703-108730, Aug. 2024. [PDF] [Code]

[J11] L. Yang, M. El Rajab, A. Shami, and S. Muhaidat, “Enabling AutoML for Zero-Touch Network Security: Use-Case Driven Analysis,” IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management (Impact Factor: 5.3), vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 3555 - 3582, Mar. 2024. [PDF] [Code]

[J10] M. El Rajab, L. Yang, and A. Shami “Zero-Touch Networks: Towards Next-Generation Network Automation,” Computer Networks (Impact Factor: 5.6), Elsevier, vol. 243, p. 110294, Feb. 2024. [PDF] 

[J9] L. Yang and A. Shami, "A Multi-Stage Automated Online Network Data Stream Analytics Framework for IIoT Systems," IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics (Impact Factor: 11.648), vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 2107-2116, 2023. [PDF] [Code]

[J8] L. Yang, A. Moubayed, A. Shami, A. Boukhtouta, P. Heidari, S. Preda, R. Brunner, D. Migault, and A. Larabi, “Forensic Data Analytics for Anomaly Detection in Evolving Networks”, A book chapter in Innovations in Digital Forensics, World Scientific, 2023. [PDF]

[J7] L. Yang and A. Shami, “IDS-ML: An open source code for Intrusion Detection System development using Machine Learning,” Software Impacts (CiteScore: 1), Elsevier, vol. 14, p. 100446, 2022. [PDF] [Code]

[J6] L. Yang and A. Shami, “IoT Data Analytics in Dynamic Environments: From An Automated Machine Learning Perspective,” Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence (Impact Factor: 7.802), Elsevier, vol. 116, pp. 1–33, 2022. [PDF] [Code]

[J5] L. Yang, A. Moubayed, A. Shami, P. Heidari, A. Boukhtouta, A. Larabi, R. Brunner, S. Preda, and D. Migault, “Multi-Perspective Content Delivery Networks Security Framework Using Optimized Unsupervised Anomaly Detection,” IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management (Impact Factor: 4.758), vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 686-705, Mar. 2022. [PDF] 

[J4] L. Yang, A. Moubayed and A. Shami, “MTH-IDS: A Multitiered Hybrid Intrusion Detection System for Internet of Vehicles,” IEEE Internet of Things Journal (Impact Factor: 10.238), vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 616-632, Jan. 2022. [PDF] [Code]

[J3] L. Yang and A. Shami, “A Lightweight Concept Drift Detection and Adaptation Framework for IoT Data Streams,” IEEE Internet of Things Magazine (SJR: 2.607), vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 96-101, Jun. 2021. [PDF] [Code]

[J2] L. Yang and A. Shami, “On Hyperparameter Optimization of Machine Learning Algorithms: Theory and Practice,” Neurocomputing (Impact Factor: 5.779), Elsevier, vol. 415, pp. 295–316, 2020. [PDF] [Code]

[J1] L. Yang, R. Muresan, A. Al-Dweik and L. Hadjileontiadis, "Image-Based Visibility Estimation Algorithm for Intelligent Transportation Systems," IEEE Access (Impact Factor: 3.476), vol. 6, pp. 76728-76740, 2018. [PDF] 

Conference Papers

[C10] A. Akasukpe, T. Adeyemi, P. Madani, L. Yang, and M. Martin, “A Per-Bag Suspicion-Based Bagging Strategy for Fighting Poisoning Attacks in Classification,” in 22nd Annual International Conference on Privacy, Security, and Trust (PST 2025), Fredericton, Canada, Accepted, Aug. 2025.

[C9] H. Maheshwari, L. Yang, and R. Pazzi, "Traffic Intersection Simulation Using Turning Movement Count Data in SUMO: A Case Study of Toronto Intersections," in 7th International Workshop on Urban Computing (UrbCom 2025), Lucca, Italy, Jun. 2025. [Link] [Code]

[C8] E. Rivas Pizarro, W. Zaheer, L. Yang, K. El-Khatib, and G. Harvel, "Securing Radiation Detection Systems with an Efficient TinyML-Based IDS for Edge Devices," in Nuclear Plant Instrumentation and Control & Human-Machine Interface Technology (NPIC&HMIT 2025), Chicago, USA, Accepted, Jun. 2025.

[C7] N. Coolidge, J. Gonzalez Sanz, L. Yang, K. El-Khatib, G. Harvel, and N. Agbemava, "An Efficient Intrusion Detection System for Safeguarding Radiation Detection Systems," in Proceedings of the International Symposium on Future Instrumentation and Control for Nuclear Power Plants (ISOFIC), Accepted, Dec. 2024.

[C6] L. Yang and A. Shami, “Towards Autonomous Cybersecurity: An Intelligent AutoML Framework for Autonomous Intrusion Detection,” in Proceedings of the Workshop on Autonomous Cybersecurity (AutonomousCyber ’24), 2024 ACM SIGSAC Conference on Computer and Communications Security (CCS’24), 2024, pp. 1-11. [PDF] [Code]

[C5] L. Yang, A. Shami, G. Stevens, and S. DeRusett, “LCCDE: A Decision-Based Ensemble Framework for Intrusion Detection in The Internet of Vehicles,” in 2022 IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), 2022, pp. 1-6. [PDF] [Code]

[C4] L. Yang and A. Shami, “A Transfer Learning and Optimized CNN Based Intrusion Detection System for Internet of Vehicles,” in 2022 IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC), 2022, pp. 1-6. [PDF] [Code]

[C3] L. Yang, D. M. Manias, and A. Shami, “PWPAE: An Ensemble Framework for Concept Drift Adaptation in IoT Data Streams,” in 2021 IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), 2021, pp. 1-6. [PDF] [Code]

[C2] D. M. Manias, I. Shaer, L. Yang, and A. Shami, "Concept Drift Detection in Federated Networked Systems, " in 2021 IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), 2021, pp. 1-6. [PDF] 

[C1] L. Yang, A. Moubayed, I. Hamieh, and A. Shami, “Tree-based Intelligent Intrusion Detection System in Internet of Vehicles,” in 2019 IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), 2019, pp. 1-6. [PDF] [Code]

Thesis

[T1] L. Yang, "Optimized and Automated Machine Learning Techniques Towards IoT Data Analytics and Cybersecurity", Ph.D. Thesis, Western University, 2022. [PDF]

[T2] L. Yang, "Comprehensive visibility indicator algorithm for adaptable speed limit control in intelligent transportation systems", M.A.Sc. Thesis, University of Guelph, 2018. [PDF]

Patents

[P1] L. Yang, "Convenient primary-secondary barrels", CN201268426Y, 2009. [Link]

Working Papers

"Relaying as a Service for Distributed Large-Scale Wireless Senor Networks" (with A. Al-Dweik, Y. Iraqi, L. Yang, S. Ghosh) [PDF] 

"Enhancing Network Intrusion Detection: An AutoML Pipeline with Efficient Digital Twin Synchronization" (with M. El Rajab and A. Shami) [PDF]